All Questions
7
votes
1answer
103 views
In what manner does the LDS believe we may become like God? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the Mormon doctrine regarding becoming a god?
Lorenzo Snow, a prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stated:
As man is, God once was; as ...
7
votes
1answer
135 views
What is the basis of the LDS (Mormon) belief that the Apostle John never died?
I was recently informed that the LDS Church teaches that the Apostle John never actually died and is, presumably, still on earth somewhere today.
What is the Biblical and/or other basis for this ...
7
votes
2answers
79 views
What's the name of this doctrine and (when) did the Eastern Orthodox Church condemn it?
"God is merciful and He wants all people to be saved, thus, all the humans, even the worst ones, having fully redeemed themselves from their wrongdoings by spending some adequate time in the hell, ...
7
votes
1answer
92 views
What makes a confession sacramental?
In the Catholic tradition, confession to a priest is treated with special protection as a sacred rite. The priest is charged with maintaining the confidential nature of the confession, something they ...
7
votes
4answers
199 views
According to the Bible, what kind of debt, if any, is lawful?
The Bible has some strong things to say about debt. In the total witness of the Bible, is all debt considered sinful? Or can we differentiate between types of debt, and say that some are lawful while ...
7
votes
2answers
186 views
Basis for the concept of an “Age of accountability”
Having attended Baptist Churches for years, I've often heard the term "age of accountability" bandied about.
The idea is that if a child dies at a young age - before reaching the "age of ...
7
votes
2answers
166 views
What is fundamentalism?
John Piper lists a series of traits that he respects about fundamentalists, yet he does not consider himself one.
In the context of Christianity (of course), what is a fundamentalist? And ...
7
votes
3answers
349 views
How is original sin transmitted?
Assuming the doctrine of original sin is true, how exactly is original sin passed down to the rest of mankind? Was the nature of man changed? If so, what exempted Christ from sin but allowed him to ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Does transcendental meditation conflict with any Christian beliefs?
I've seen many testimonies and case studies lauding the benefits of transcendental meditation. It is said that it isn't a religion and people of all religions participate in this practice. As a ...
7
votes
2answers
439 views
Is there any Biblical basis for baby dedications?
Many churches do not practice infant baptisms, because they believe that in the Bible baptism is taught to be something done after a person chooses to follow Christ.
As an alternative, many of those ...
7
votes
4answers
521 views
Is it fair to say that Baptists have a liturgy?
One distinctive of Baptists and many other congregational churches is that they have no proscribed method of worship. Unlike, say, an Episcopalian or a Roman Catholic, there is no prayer book and no ...
7
votes
2answers
634 views
How does a Roman Catholic reconcile a preference for purely procreative sex with the Song of Solomon?
Premise #1: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex is for procreation
Peter Turner has an excellent answer to the question on Onan. In it, he suggests that Onan really was misusing sex, and that ...
7
votes
3answers
118 views
Why do Baptists believe in the autonomy of local congregations?
Why do Baptists reject the idea of a central authority and instead place authority in the local congregations? Does this have a biblical basis or is it a result of past conflict with authority ...
7
votes
1answer
719 views
What does it mean to pray in Jesus' Name?
A few times in the book of John, Jesus instructs us to pray "in His Name". What does this mean? How do we know if we are praying in His name? How would we not be praying in His name?
I don't ...
7
votes
2answers
73 views
What is the Biblical basis the for Immutable Nature of God?
Dei Filius sayeth this:
God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever be in opposition to truth. The appearance of this kind of specious contradiction is chiefly due to the fact that either the ...
7
votes
1answer
321 views
What does it mean to test God?
I remember that while Jesus was being tempted in the desert by the devil, the devil had asked Him to jump down from a height, because the angels would be sure to rescue Him. But Jesus answered that ...
7
votes
5answers
397 views
How do Christians explain commonalities between their religion, other major faiths and obscure isolated tribal belief systems?
Many belief systems share common themes; an afterlife, rebirth, bodily mutilation and sacrifice.
To me this suggests a shared origin either in history or storytelling (Abrahamic faiths) or that they ...
7
votes
2answers
129 views
Are other flood legends relevant to Christians? [closed]
There are different flood legends among several civilizations that are similiar to the flood in the Bible.
A flood myth or deluge myth is a mythical or religious story of a great flood sent by a ...
7
votes
1answer
307 views
When (and why) did the empty cross v.s. crucifix split happen?
Today, we have Catholic and Orthodox churches (and a few others) using the crucifix whereas most Protestant denominations have an empty cross. Did this empty-cross split happen around when Martin ...
7
votes
2answers
138 views
How can a particular trade of modern times get a patron saint?
In days of yore, tradesman and guilds had patron saints. These days patrons seem to only be attributed to profession in vague ways via papal declaration (i.e. St. John Vianney is the Patron of all ...
7
votes
5answers
344 views
Does Christianity allow Christians to celebrate other holidays?
A quick search on Google will come up with several Christian holidays including:
Valentine's Day
Good Friday
Thanksgiving
Christmas
However, in many multi-cultural countries, there are often ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did God rest on the 7th day?
It seems that, to an omnipotent and omnipresent being, the concept of rest would be academic. What would have happened if he hadn't rested?
7
votes
1answer
140 views
Why was the mark of Cain necessary?
In Genesis 4:14-15 (NRSV) it says:
14 I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.’ 15 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Not so! Whoever kills Cain will ...
7
votes
5answers
429 views
What is the Christian definition of “God”?
How does Christianity define "God" and does it apply to all denominations across Christianity?
7
votes
3answers
235 views
What is the historical reason the King James Version was created?
Many years ago, I heard someone say that the KJV came about because King James I wanted a version of the Bible that supported him getting a divorce. Nowadays, I can't help but wonder how true this is. ...
7
votes
1answer
225 views
Should we allow doctors or God to heal us? [closed]
Inspired by this post regarding moving mountains by faith.
God has told us to rely on him (Matthew 6:25-34) for all things.
Also, James 5:15 says
And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed ...
6
votes
1answer
74 views
What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?
I did a search and saw that the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" appears exclusively in the Gospel according to Matthew. However, the phrase "Kingdom of God" appears a few times in Matthew, but is also ...
6
votes
2answers
90 views
In what language was the Book of Matthew written?
I have heard it taught in several places that Matthew was originally written in Hebrew and it's intended audience was the Jew (which does help explain why it seems a bit more vague on key Christian ...
6
votes
5answers
322 views
Why do Christians seek to convert everyone?
This may touch a nerve, but why do Christians seek to convert everyone, especially people who have no interest in being converted? It always comes off like a drug dealer saying, "Try it, you'll like ...
6
votes
1answer
115 views
How did Augustine of Hippo feel about Jerome's Latin translation of the Bible (the Vulgate)?
Augustine and Jerome wrote several epistles to one another. In these epistles, how did Augustine feel about Jerome producing the Latin Vulgate? What were his concerns?
6
votes
5answers
271 views
Is confessing to a priest the only way to be forgiven?
We first confess in our first communion and the priests say that we should always confess our sins, but is it the only way to be forgiven by God ?
Can't we pray and ask for forgiveness? I've heard of ...
6
votes
2answers
117 views
Why is Infant Baptism considered to be invalid by so many Protestant denominations?
Catholics and several Protestant denominations (and maybe even Orthodox churches) practice Infant Baptism, while many other Protestant denominations do not.
This question addressed the argument for ...
6
votes
5answers
263 views
Isn't reincarnation affirmed by the Bible?
Malachi 4:5:
I will send you the prophet Elijah. He will come before the day of the Lord arrives. It will be a great and terrifying day
Jesus says in Matthew 11:14
"and if you are willing ...
6
votes
2answers
186 views
Is there anything unique to a christian marriage that non-christian marriages are deprived of?
Are there any teachings that state that there is anything unique to a Christian marriage that non-Christian marriages are deprived of?
A slightly different question but similar enough:
Does a ...
6
votes
2answers
135 views
Eating of which non-fish animals does not go against the dietery law of the Roman Catholic Church?
During lent a Roman Catholic may not consume meat other than that of a fish. However, there are some non-fish animals that have been considered okay to consume during that time, like beaver for ...
6
votes
1answer
107 views
Do Cessationists believe that there are no modern miracles?
The general concept of Cessationism that I have is that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not given these days, having fulfilled their purpose nearly 2000 years ago. What I'm not sure about is whether ...
6
votes
4answers
211 views
You might be a “fundamentalist” if ___
What sources could one appeal to if trying to argue if a doctrine was or was not consistent with fundamentalism?
The question What is fundamentalism? identifies the historical source and some of the ...
6
votes
1answer
93 views
Do the LDS believe in the Hypostatic Union?
Well, this may seem like a dumb question, but a lot of heads have been knocked around over what is meant by the "Divinity of Christ". To a Catholic, I don't think one can have the Divinity of Christ ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Driving out spirits in Jesus's name with discrepancy in Bible
In Acts 19: 13-17. Several people tries to drive out demons by using Jesus's name.
13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who ...
6
votes
1answer
84 views
Did John Wesley admire and learn from Arminias or did he just have a couple similiar ideas?
I do not know a lot about Wesley, but when I encounter him, I tend to like what he says, even though I am a Calvinist.
On the the other hand when I encounter people arguing for Arminian doctrines in ...
6
votes
2answers
286 views
What language did Jesus speak?
As a young believer I was quickly turned on to the idea of learning some things about the "original languages" of the Bible. After all, how could you understand John 21:15-17 without understanding ...
6
votes
2answers
137 views
What is the Biblical basis for 'term eldership'?
Some churches who appoint elders do so for a term (3 years is typical from what I have seen). Other churches ordain elders for life. Is there a Biblical basis for ordaining elders for a term?
6
votes
1answer
64 views
What are the main points of dissent between Cyril of Alexandria and John Chrysostom?
What were the main differences or points of dissent between Cyril of Alexandria and John Chrysostom? Can anyone give a summary, please?
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What scripture is used to support a “Pre-Tribulation Rapture”?
CLARIFICATION: For those who believe there will be an event in the "end times" in which believers will be "taken up" to meet Jesus "in the clouds", and that there is yet to be a "Great Tribulation", ...
6
votes
2answers
237 views
What roles do faith and works play in the LDS/Mormon understanding of salvation?
A primary point in the Reformation was the issue of sola fide--the position that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works. This was to distinguish the position that works were necessary for ...
6
votes
3answers
412 views
Is/will there be time in heaven?
An answer suggests that "time is meaningless in heaven." Do we know this to be true?
It seems like an easy conclusion to draw, based on the following:
God created the entire universe, including ...
6
votes
3answers
13k views
What is the difference between a pastor, a priest, and a minister?
No, this is not the start of a joke about a bunch of people walking into a bar. Rather, I thought it would be helpful to clarify various terms that people use to describe a church's leadership.
6
votes
1answer
520 views
What are the protestant arguments against a sacramental economy?
Given that all the 7 sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation) are each explicitly mentioned in the Bible as commands put forth ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What happened to Ananias and Sapphira after death?
Acts 5:1-11 (NIV)
1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but ...
6
votes
1answer
347 views
Orthodox churches recognized by Catholic Church
Which Orthodox churches are recognized by the Catholic church? Are there any churches older than the split that are not recognized by the Catholic Church and that are still active?
Edit: "recognize" ...
